Foot cushion



Feb- 2l, 1950 G. c. SKINNER FOOT CUSHION Filed MaICh 25, 1948 I N V EN TOR Garnett C. Skinner a l., 1111111111111 1111111 1 1111 1 111 .x

Patented Feb. 2l, 195() UNITED STATES PTENT OFFICE FOOT CUSHION Garnett C. Skinner, Evanston, Ill.

Application March 23, 1948,l Serial No. 16,607

(Cl. S65- 71) Claims.

The invention relates to improvements in foot cushions.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel foot cushion -construction in which the longitudinal, transverse, and metatarsal arches are ilexibly supported.

Another object is to provide a construction for a foot cushion comprising a formed resilient shapeeretaining frame member for yieldably supporting and cushioning the inner and outer longitudinal and transverse arches of a foot rested thereon.

Another object is to provide a foot. cushion of such construction as to distribute body weight correctly.

Another object of the invention is to provide a foot cushion with means to grip the foot firmly to, prevent transverse spreading of the foot and improper distribution of body weight.

Another object of the invention is to, provide, in a foot cushion, a novel association of resilient arch-supporting means and cushions cooperating jointly to insure adequate support for all por-V tions of the foot.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims, and are illustrated in the accompanying drawing which, by way of illustration, shows an exemplary embodiment and the principles thereof. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same principle may be used, and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art, without departing from the present invention and the pur-` view of the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational View, partlyA in section, of a shoe, showing the improved foot cushion arranged therein.

Fig, 2 is a plan View of the foot cushion showing the top covering removed.

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the arch-supn porting frame.

Fig. i is a transverse sectional view, taken subn stantially on line 4,.-,4 of Fig. 2.

Greater foot comfort may be obtained by the correct support of the foot so that body weight is absorbed and distributed by the longitudinal arches. Such distribution of the body weight is best obtained through the use of a foot cushion including a molded shape-retaining arch-supporting frame capable of limited adjustment through its inherent resiliency in response to applied body weight so. as to snugly grip the foot and vfacilitate weight distribution to foot areas 2 intended to support such weight. Correct distribution of body weight allows the body to stand in a straighter and more upright position and allows for muscle relaxation at the posterior portion of the leg.

The bones and muscles of the feet, from heel to toe, lower when body weight is applied and rise to 4their original position when body weight is removed. Thus, it is apparent that foot health can be best maintained only when a foot support or cushion is capable of yielding under body weight. The foot cushion of the present invention yields in its entirety, providing a spring action for each arch and the heel bone thereof, thereby conforming to the natural functioning of foot movement. Accordingly, the foot cushion embodying the features of the present invention includes a formed resilient shape-retain.- ing frame member to underly and support the longitudinal and transverse arches of the foot and resilient means such as pads to cushion the metatarsal arch and the heel bone.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the foot cushion illustrated is constructed as an insert for the shoe iii, although it will become apparent that it may be built directly into the shoe as a component part thereof. lThe shoe li! includes the usual upper Il and sole I2.

As best shown in Fig. 1, the improved foot cushion is in the form of an insert generally indicated at I3, which includes upper and lower covering layers oi pliable material lil and l5, such as soit leather, a resilient pad l, preferably of suitable yieldable material such as foam rubber, a shape-retaining frame member Il, and a cushion I3. The pad i6, frame l'l, and cushion it are held in proper relation between Ithe upper and lower layers ill and l5 by means of a row of stitches I9 which extend around the perimeter of the insert and rmly join the marginal edges of the upper and lower layers together. It should be quite evident, however, that the upper and lower layers may be suitably joined by means other than the stitches I9 and also that, in the event the foot cushion is incorporated into the shoe construction, the lower layer l5 may be en-y tirely disposed of.

The frame member Il, which is best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, may be fabricated from any suitable shape-retaining material such as plasticized fabric, it being formed intosubstantially the shape best illustrated in Fig. 3 as by molding. As shown, the frame il includes a main body portion 2 l, which is suitabli7 Shaped transversely to conform substantially to the normal transverse arch of a foot. Said body portion also is suitably curved and shaped longitudinally to provide a marginal area 22 which conforms substantially to the outer longitudinal arch of the foot and the opposite side thereof is suitably shaped, as at 23, to conform to the inner longitudinal foot arch. The posterior end of the frame i1 is formed with a deep end recess 24 defining spaced rearwardly extending arm portions 25 and 25. These arm portions constitute continuations of the shaped body portion and, when the'frame is mounted in the assembly, the end portions of said arms are free for purposes to be described hereinafter.

The anterior end of the frame I1 also is provided with a relatively deep end recess 21 defined on one side by a forwardly extending arm 28 which, like the arm 25, constitutes a contour continuation of the inner arch curvature of the frame body. The free end portion of this arm also is substantially free. A forwardly extending portion 29 constituting the other side o'f the anterior recess 21 is substantially shorter than the related arm 28, this beingy effected by the Asharp converging end or body edge 3|.

the frame 2I downwardly, the ange 32 lies in a plane angularly disposed outwardly of the vertical.

In assembly, the frame I1 is seated upon the pad IB. Upon reference to Fig. 2, it will be noted that the pad l' has a contour outline corresponding substantially to the outline of the frame I1 in that it is provided with an anterior recess 33 in substantial alignment with the frame anterior recess 21. It should be observed, however, that there is no posterior recess in the pad IB; consequently, a substantial portion of said pad underlies the posterior recess 24 in the frame I1.

The pad and frame assembly is rested upon the bottom layer l5 of the foot cushion, which layer has a portion extending forwardly of the anterior end of said assembly. The cushion I8, previously referred to, and which is fabricated from suitable resilient material such as foam rubber or the like, is placed upon the forwardly extending portion of the lower layer I5, with its rearmost or small end portion located substantially within the registering anterior recesses 21 and 33. After these elements have been assembled in the relation discussed hereinabove, the top layer i4 of the foot cushion is positioned thereover' and secured to the lower layer I5 in the manner hereinbefore described.

The foot cushion is positioned within the shoes, as shown in Fig. 1, with the posterior portion located at the heel thereof sofas to locate the area of the pad I6 within the posterior recess I4 directly beneath the calcaneus indicated diagrammatically at 34. The body portion 2I of the frame underlies the longitudinal and transverse arches of the foot, thereby providing adequate support for the scaphoid 35 and internal cuneiform 36. The resilient cushion I'B underlies'the phalanges, thereby affording a resilient supporting surface for maintaining and strengthening themetatarsal arch 31 of the foot. When pressure is applied downwardly `on the body por- 4 tion, the free ends of the arms 25, 26 and 28 spread slightly.

The frame I1 serves not only to afford a firm but resilient support for the various foot arches, but it further provides means whereby the foot is firmly grasped when pressure is applied downwardly on the frame, as while walking. Upon reference to Fig. 4, it will be observed that the upstanding iiange 32 swings inwardly into substantially the position illustrated .in dotted lines at 38 when the body portion 2I of the frame is iiexed in a downward direction. Such downward deflection of the body portion 2l also results in slight upward flexing of the inner longitudinal arch-supporting area 23. As a consequence, the foot is snuglyembraced within the area defined by the inward flexing flange 32 and upwardly flexing portion 23'. Such gripping of the foot prevents undue spreading thereof and, because the flesh is firmly held, the various muscles and bones of the foot structure are prevented from transverse displacement. l n

AAlthough applicant has disclosed a specific structure and assembly of the improved foot cushion in the accompanying drawing and explained that structure in detail in the foregoing specification, it should be understood that details in the construction thereof may be varied without departing from the-spirit of the invention orthe scope of theappended claims.

1. A foot cushion comprising upper and lower layers of pliable material, a molded longitudinal and transverse arch-supporting frame between said layers, said frame having cut-outs at its anterior and posterior portions and an upstanding ange on an edge of its longitudinal arch-supporting portion, a sheet of resilient material between the frame and the lower layer, said sheet conforming substantially to the outline of the frame and underlying the posterior cut-out, and a resilient phalanges-supporting cushion located i the anterior cut-out.

2. A cushion for underlying a foot and composed of upper and lower layers of pliable material, a resilient shape-retaining arch-supporting frame located beneath the upper layer, said frame being of suflicient size to underlie the longitudinal arches and extend rearwardly into the region of the heel of the foot, a resilient pad located between the supporting frame and the lower layer, the frame being cut out at its posterior end to expose the pad in the area beneath the heel bone, a cut-out at the anterior end of the frame, and a resilient cushion located in said cut-out between the upper and lower layers.

3. A foot cushionvincluding a pad of resilient material, a frame member on said pad of resilient shape-retaining material arched so that its end portions constitute supports therefor and yieldably maintain its major portion elevated, the posterior end of the frame member including rearwardly extending arms defining therebetween a posterior recess exposing the underlying portion of the pad, the extremities of said arms being free, the anterior end of the framermember including forwardly extending arms of different lengths dening an anterior recess corresponding substantially with an anterior recess in the pad, said arms being free, and a cushion disposed in the anterior recesses.

4. A foot cushion including a pad of resilient material, a frame member on said pad of resilient shape-retaining material' arched so that its end portions constitutek supports therefor and yieldably maintain its major portion elevated, the posterior end of the frame member including rearwardly extending arms dening therebetween a posterior recess exposing the underlying portion of the pad, the extremities of said arms being free, the anterior end of the frame member including forwardly extending arms of different lengths defining an anterior recess corresponding substantially with an anterior recess in the pad, said arms being free, a cushion disposed in the anterior recess, and upper and lower covering members for the pad, cushion and frame member assembly.

5. A foot cushion comprising upper and lower layers of pliable material, a molded longitudinal and transverse arch-supporting frame between said layers, said frame having cut-outs at its anterior and posterior portions and an upstanding flange on an edge of its longitudinal archsupporting portion, a sheet of resilient material between the frame and the lower layer, said sheet conforming substantially to the outline of the REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,583,683 Grant May 4, 1926 1,907,995 Nickerson May 9, 1933 2,148,974 Wysowski Feb. 28, 1939 2,221,202 Ratclii Nov. 12, 1940 

